U.S. Food-Stamp Use Reaches Record 45.8 Million, USDA Says
The number of Americans receiving food stamps reached a record 45.8 million in August, the government said.
The figure was 1.1 percent higher than the previous month and 8.1 percent more than a year earlier, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said today in a report on its website. Assistance rolls are increasing as joblessness remains at 9.1 percent of the workforce.
Texas had the most food-stamp recipients in August, at 4.12 million, followed by California with 3.82 million, according to the USDA. Spending was a record $6.13 billion.
The number of Americans receiving food stamps under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has set records every month but one since December 2008.
To contact the reporter on this story: Alan Bjerga in Washington at abjerga@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Steve Stroth in Chicago at sstroth@bloomberg.net.
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